In Situ Synthesis of Surface-Mounted Novel Nickel(II) Trimer-Based MOF on Nickel Oxide Hydroxide Heterostructures for Enhanced Methanol Electro-Oxidation

Engineering the heterogeneous interface fusing MOFs and inorganic active component is an effective strategy to improve the electrochemical performance. Herein, we report a new Ni3-based MOF (denoted as CTGU-24) with an infrequent two-fold interpenetrating 3D (3,8)-connected network constructed from Ni(II) trimer and mixed tripodal tectonics for the electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). In order to improve its stability and activities, the heterogeneous hybrid CTGU-24@NiOOH has been fabricated successfully via the first preparation of the NiOOH nanosphere and then in situ formation of CTGU-24 decorated on the NiOOH surface. Moreover, the integration of CTGU-24@NiOOH and different additives [acetylene black (AB) and ketjen black (KB)], resulting in the optimized hybrid sample AB&CTGU-24@NiOOH (4:4). It attains better MOR performance with an area-specific peak current density of 34.53 mA·cm−2 than pure CTGU-24 (14.99 mA·cm−2) and improved durability in an alkali medium. The new findings indicate that the CTGU-24@NiOOH heterostructure formed in situ and the integration of moderate additives are critical to optimizing and improving electrocatalytic activity of pure MOF crystalline material.

Synthesis of mussel-inspired polydopamine-gallium nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Aim: To established a simple, controlled and reproducible method to synthesize gallium (Ga)-coated polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles (NPs). Materials & methods: PDA NPs were synthesized in alkali medium with posterior Ga shell formation due to ion chelation on the NP surface. Results: The obtained results with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of Ga on the PDA NP surface. The cytotoxicity of Ga-coated PDA NPs was evaluated in vitro at different concentrations in contact with human adipose-derived stem cells. Further cell analysis also demonstrated the benefit of Ga-coated PDA NPs, which increased the cell proliferation rate compared with noncoated PDA NPs. Conclusion: This study indicated that Ga could work as an appropriate shell for PDA NPs, inducing cell proliferation at the analyzed concentrations.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Bromhexine Hydrochloride in Its Pharmaceutical Preparations by Diazotization and Coupling Method

A simple, fast, and sensitive spectrophotometric method was suggested for the determination of Bromhexine Hydrochloride (BHH) in its pharmaceutical formulations. The method depends on the diazotization of BHH by sodium nitrite in acidic medium to produce the corresponding diazonium salt. The latter is coupled with phloroglucinol reagent in alkali medium to form a yellow water soluble azo-dye which has a maximum absorption at 405 nm with a molar absorptivity of 2.7×104 l.mol-1.cm-1 and Sandellʼs sensitivity of 0.01517 µg.cm-1. Beerʼs low is obeyed within a concentration range of 0.25-15 µg.mL-1 of BHH. The LOD and LOQ values of the proposed method were 0.087 µg.mL-1 and 0.293 µg.ml-1, respectively. The proposed method was validated with standard methods and successfully applied to the determination of Bromhexine in its pharmaceutical formulations as tablets, syrup, and injections.

A Novel Anion Exchange Membrane for Bisulfite Anion Separation by Grafting a Quaternized Moiety through BPPO via Thermal-Induced Phase Separation

Ion-exchange membranes are the core elements for an electrodialysis (ED) separation process. Phase inversion is an effective method, particularly for commercial membrane production. It introduces two different mechanisms, i.e., thermal induced phase separation (TIPS) and diffusion induced phase separation (DIPS). In this study, anion exchange membranes (AEMs) were prepared by grafting a quaternized moiety (QM,2-[dimethylaminomethyl]naphthalen-1-ol) through brominated poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (BPPO) via the TIPS method. Those membranes were applied for selective bisulfite (HSO3−) anion separation using ED. The membrane surface morphology was characterized by SEM, and the compositions were magnified using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Notably, the membranes showed excellent substance stability in an alkali medium and in grafting tests performed in a QM-soluble solvent. The ED experiment indicated that the as-prepared membrane exhibited better HSO3− separation performance than the state-of-the-art commercial Neosepta AMX (ASTOM, Japan) membrane.

Effect of conventional degumming methods on Eri silk fibers produced in Kenya

Purpose This paper aims to determine the best conventional degumming technique for use by rural farmers practicing Eri silk fiber production in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach Three conventional silk degumming methods (water, soap and alkali) were analyzed under the factors, namely, time, pressure and degumming media, following the multilevel factorial design of experiments. The effect of variables on degumming weight loss was determined. The effects of the conventional degumming methods that produced complete sericin removal on chemical structure, surface morphology, thermal properties, crystallinity and fiber strength on Eri silk fibers produced in Kenya were then determined. The optimal degumming condition was then evaluated. Findings Soap and water degumming led to incomplete sericin removal. Alkali degumming media had the most effect, especially when pressure cooked at 103 kPa. Increasing time during alkali degumming beyond 30 min did not to have any major difference on degumming loss (at p 0.05). There were no major changes in chemical and thermal properties after degumming. However, the tensile strength and elongation deteriorated especially on alkali medium. Decreasing degumming time in alkali medium from 120 min to 30 min reduced the strength loss from 45% to 33%. Optimal degumming was found to be in an alkali media at 103 kPa for 30 min. Originality/value There is very little information available on Eri silk fibers produced in Kenya. Results of this study provide an optimized conventional degumming procedure suitable for small scale farmers in rural areas practicing Eri silk fiber production.

Recycling of LiCo0.59Mn0.26Ni0.15O2 cathodic material from spent Li-ion batteries by the method of the citrate gel combustion

The Li-ion batteries are the main power source for the high technology devices, such as mobile phones and electric vehicles. Because of that, the number of spent Li-ion batteries significantly increases. Today, the number of active mobile phones crossed 7.19 billion. It is estimated that the mass of the spent lithium ion batteries in China will exceed 500,000 t by 2020. The trouble is in the ingredients of these batteries. They contain Li, Co, Mn, Ni, Cu, Al and toxic and flammable electrolytes which have a harmful affection to the environment. Because of that, the recycling procedure attracts raising attention of researches. Several commercial spent Li-ion batteries were recycled by the relatively fast, economic and simple procedure. The three ways of separating the cathode material from Al collector were examined after the manual dismantling of the components of batteries with the Li(Co?Mn?Ni)O2 as cathode material. These were: 1. dissolution of the Al collector in the alkali medium, 2. peeling off with N-methylpyrrolidone and 3. thermal decomposition of the adhesive at 700?C. The procedure with the highest yield was the one with the dissolution in alkali medium. The chemical analysis of the single batteries'' components (the crust, Al/Cu collector, cathode material) were done by the atomic absorption spectrometry. The components, before the analysis, were dissolved. The re-synthesis of the cathode material by the method of the citrate gel combustion was done after the separating the cathode material and dissolving it in the nitric acid. The obtained product was, after annealing, characterized by the methods of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The recycled product was LiCo0.59Mn0.26Ni0.15O2 stoichiometry, with the hexagonal layered structure ?-NaFeO2 type. The functionalization of the resynthesized material was examined in the 1 M solution LiClO4 in the propylene carbonate, by galvanostatic charging, with the current density of 0.7C. The recycled material showed relatively good capacities of charging and discharging which are 94.9 i 64.8 mA h g?1, respectively.